Partial Trolley Service Could Be on Road to Restoration

By Bill Dries

The Memphis Area Transit Authority has identified five trolleys that it is repairing and could have back in limited service in three to six months, probably on the Main Street line.

Memphis Area Transit Authority employees work to restore a trolley car Friday, July 25. MATA has identified five trolleys to repair and possibly return to service in three to six months.

(Bill Dries/Daily News)

“We’ve identified the five trolleys that we believe are in the best condition to focus on them and go in and do a complete reinspection and begin repair work on those five trolleys with the intent of getting at least limited service in place within three to six months,” said MATA interim president and general manager Tom Fox. “We do believe that we are still on schedule to meet that window of time.”

All trolley service was suspended in June after the transit authority reached the conclusion that the fleet would either have to be completely renovated or replaced.

Fox said Friday, July 25, that no decision has been made on the possible renovation of other trolleys in the fleet.

Some of the trolleys have been in service for the 22 years since the Main Street line began. They were initially restored after being bought from sources in Australia and Portugal where they were originally in service, some as long ago as 80 or 100 years.